Shore birds in the Salton Sea photographed through a spotting scope.
(
Lesley Handa
)
Topline:
A new study by Audubon California finds a 15% increase in the number of shore birds at Salton Sea after years of fish die offs and larger bird declines.
Why it matters: The Salton Sea watershed is about 8,000 square miles east of L.A. County. It’s a massive size, but has been in ecological decline in recent years as it dries up.
The context: Less water runoff from farms has led to a drop in the waterline in the Salton Sea, hurting wildlife and creating air borne dust that’s harmful to humans. California officials have spent significant amounts of public funds to alleviate both problems. The new study is an unexpected bright spot.
The backstory: The Salton Sea was promoted as a recreational paradise in the mid-20th century. Those dreams have faded as water shortages and environmental shifts dried up the area.
A new study by Audubon California has found a 15% increase in the number of shore birds at the Salton Sea, despite a prolonged ecological decline there.
The findings are surprising because in recent years as the area has gotten drier, there have been fish die-offs and fewer of the larger, fish-eating birds, like pelicans.
Restoration area during the Intermountain West Shorebird Survey at the Salton Sea near Niland, California on April 23, 2025.
(
Sydney Walsh
/
Audubon California
)
The study suggests the changes in the area’s ecology has specifically attracted more shore birds like the Western sandpiper.
“We’re seeing an increase in the availability in shore bird habitat,” said Dan Orr, leader of desert and Salton Sea science for Audubon California.
The birds have migrated from other parts of the region where development has shrunk their habitat, usually in mudflats along the coastal shores.
Shore birds in the Salton Sea photographed through a spotting scope.
(
Lesley Handa
)
The study collects seven years of data and could point to ways to improve the public’s experience at the Salton Sea.
It’s the mud
As the water line drops, Orr said, these smaller shore birds are finding nutrient rich biofilm on the surface of the water and mud. It’s produced when freshwater from farm runoffs meets the very salty water in the Salton Sea. The biofilm is rich in bacteria and lipids.
“It’s like their green smoothie,” Orr said.
But more information is needed about what the shore birds are eating and how the food source that’s bringing them to the Salton Sea is related to the food chain in the area.
“Globally and in the U.S., shore birds are doing badly,” Orr said.
More birds, more birdwatching
The increase in birds is good news for wildlife watchers. There are specific spaces reserved for the public, like the Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge and the Salton Sea State Recreation Area.
But advocates say an image problem means Salton Sea is not on the top of many people’s lists.
“A lot of people think that it's a wasteland,” said Lesley Handa, the lead ornithologist at San Diego Bird Alliance. The group helps conduct a bird count at the Salton Sea every December.
There’s some truth to the wasteland perception. Public officials have tried to address wildlife die-offs and harmful air borne dust stirred up from the Salton Sea.
Salton Sea marshlands.
(
Audubon California
)
Nevertheless, Handa said the report’s findings constitutes good news.
“[The Salton Sea] is a really, really valuable area in terms of water bird biodiversity and bird biodiversity in general,” she said.
If you go
Advocates say there should be more signage, platforms and viewing areas for the public to fully enjoy the bird watching experience. Handa recommends first time visitors to the area start at the Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge. There’s a visitor center that provides maps.
